Pulpwood gantry rake

ABSTRACT

The invention has a gantry frame structure including an elevated platform on which is mounted a crane unit for rotational movement about a vertical axis. The frame assembly extends across a flume or conveyor means and is self-propelled longitudinally of the conveyor means. Open to one end of the frame structure and mounted thereon for movement transversely of the frame structure is downwardly and inwardly inclined chute means of a length to extend between the conveyor and a car positioned along one side of the gantry frame structure. The cute means is movable to an inner position, whenever the gantry frame structure is moved longitudinally of the conveyor means, and to an outer position contiguous with a flat car deck to be unloaded, when the gantry frame structure is in a moved position.

Grundon PULPWOOD GANTRY RAKE Feb. 1, 1972 Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan AttorneyRudolph L. Lowell [72] lnventor: John L. Grundon, E. 16th & Howard Drive, Des Moines, Iowa 50333 [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: 1970 The invention has a gantry frame structure including an [21] AppL 72,384 elevated platform on which is mounted a crane unit for rotational movement about a vertical axis. The frame assembly extends across a flume or conveyor means and is self-propelled [52] US. Cl ..2l4/57, [98/45, 198/72, longitudinally of the conveyor means. Open to one end of the 198/222 frame structure and mounted thereon for movement transver- [51] Int. Cl ..B65g 67/26 sely of the frame structure is downwardly and inwardly [58] Field of Search ..214/44 R, 44 A, 57; 198/222 ed c te mean of a length to extend between the conveyor and a car positioned along one side of the gantry frame 5 R f e m structure. The cute means is movable to an inner position, whenever the gantry frame structure is moved longitudinally UNITED STATES PATENTS of the conveyor means, and to an outer position contiguous with a flat car deck to be unloaded, when the gantry frame 727,790 5/1903 Hebb ..l98/222 X Structure is in 3 moved position. 2,540,993 2/1951 Rogers ..2l4/44 R 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 32 29 22 l l, A

m 7L Z3 I z/ l I" I 1 'l/ /f 3/ i Z\ l c I l, l 0 l 'l L l 1 ih I l \k l 'l 27 I 3; Z41 /7 341 ,4 =l=-== 1 53 2 I 37 2 T174577 34 'hZ 3 l by PATENTED FEB 1 1972 SHEET 2 BF 3 JOHN Z (/A/DO/V 59 PULPWOOD GANTRY RAKE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The gantry rake of this invention is efficient in operation to remove pulpwood from flat cars, having loadcarrying decks of varying widths, into a flume or conveyor means for delivery to a paper mill or the like for processing. The gantry rake is self-propelled longitudinally of the conveyor means and includes a rake member which when the gantry rake is in a moved position engages and moves pulpwood from a flat car into the chute means for travel by gravity into the conveyor means. The adjustment control for the chute means is interconnected with a directional control for the gantry rake so that the chute means is automatically moved into a retracted position, when the gantry rake is moved longitudinally of a flat car, and to a position for receiving pulpwood from a flat car when the gantry rake is in a moved position. Varying widths of flat cars are thus readily accommodated for pulpwood unloading while assuring adequate clearance between the gantry rake and the flat cars for passing purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the gantry rake of this invention shown in operative association with a flat car being unloaded;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken on line 2- 2 in FIG. 1 showing the relative arrangement between the chute means and the deck ofa flat car;

FIG. 3 is a view as seen on the line 3-3 in FIG. 2, with certain parts broken away and other parts in section, showing the assembly relation of the chute means with the gantry frame structure;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective detail view showing the assembly relation of the chute means with an operating hydraulic cylinder therefor;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional detail views taken on the lines 55 and 66, respectively, in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 illustrates diagrammatically a control system providing for an automatic positioning of the chute means in response to a directional movement of the gantry rake; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view as seen on the line 8--8 in FIG. 7.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawing, the gantry rake of this invention, designated generally as in FIG. 1, is used for moving pulpwood 16 from the deck 17 of a flat car 18 into a subsurface conveyor means or flume 19 for delivery into a mill for processing. The gantry rake includes a frame structure 21 that has a base section 22 and an elevated platform or upper section 23 supported on corner leg members 24 extended upwardly from the base section 22 which includes a pair of side frame members 26 and a pair ofend members 27. A crane unit 28 rotatably supported on the platform 23 for rotation about a vertical axis has a boom assembly 29 equipped with a pivoted back rake 31 that is supported from a pivoted boom member 32. The back rake 31 operates to engage and move the pulpwood 16 from the deck of the flat car 18 onto a chute assembly 33 for downward travel by gravity into the flume 19.

The base section 22 extends across the flume l9 and is supported on traction rollers 34 which are ridable on correspond ing track members 36 arranged at opposite sides of and in a parallel relation with the flume 19. Pairs of the rollers 34 arranged opposite each other transversely of the flume 19 are carried on a common drive shaft 37 that is in a driven relation with a power means 38 for the crane unit 28 through a transmission system 39. As is well known, the power means 38 includes an engine in operative association with oil pump units which supply oil under pressure to the various hydraulic operating units of the gantry rake.

The flat car 18 travels on tracks 41 extended longitudinally of the flume l9 and along one side of the gantry frame structure 21 in a parallel relation with the track members 36. Thus, on travel of the gantry rake 15 to moved positions longitudinally of the flat car 18 the back rake 31 is operable to engage and move the pulpwood 16 from the flat car deck 17 into the chute assembly 33. The chute assembly is of a generally rectangular shape in plan view and is carried on the gantry rake frame structure 21 at the side thereof adjacent the flat car 18 at a position between the corner legs 24 at such side. As also appears in FIG. I the chute assembly 33 is of a length to provide for its downward and inward inclination from the deck 17 to the flume 19.

The deck 17 of the flat cars 18 vary in width so that the side 42 of the deck 17 may project laterally toward the frame structure 21 through a range of about 1 foot. To accommodate these variations in the flat car decks the chute as sembly 33 is movably supported on the base section 22 for a translatory horizontal movement ofits upper end 43 through a distance of about 8 inches. For a narrow car deck 17 the upper edge 44 of the chute assembly 33 is located about 4 inches outwardly from and about 5 inches below the side edge 42 of the deck 17, as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 2. For a wide car deck 17 the upper edge 44 of the chute assembly 33 is located adjacent or contiguous to the lower edge of the deck side 42 as illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 2. These relative positions between narrow and wide flat car decks and the chute assembly 33 are obtained for an inclination of the chute assembly at an angle of about 25 with a horizontal plane.

The chute assembly 33 (FIGS. 3 and 5) is of a laminated or sandwich construction having a center section or layer 46 comprised of ties or timbers arranged in a side-by-side relation and outer layers 47 formed of a deck or boiler plate material. The outer layers 47 and center layer 46 are secured together by channel members 48 and 49 arranged about the sides and ends, respectively, of the chute assembly 33 in a manner to receive the perimeter portions of the outer layers 47 between the leg members 51 thereof. These perimeter portions and the leg members 51 are held together by bolts 52 extended therethrough and through the ends of the timbers that form the center section 46.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the timbers of the center layer 46 of the chute assembly 33 are arranged so as to form a cylinder receiving compartment 53 at each end of the chute assembly 33. Each end channel member 49 of the chute as sembly 33 is slidably supported in a nested relation within a channel bearing 54 having its web section 56 (FIGS. 5 and 6) secured, as by weldments, to an adjacent side member 26 of the base section 22. To adjustably move the chute assembly 33 longitudinally of the channel bearing 54, each compartment 53 has a hydraulic cylinder unit 57 extended longitudinally thereof at a position substantially opposite a corresponding channel bearing 54.

Secured to and projected laterally from the web section 56 of a channel bearing 54 is a connector bar 58 (FIGS. 4 and 6) that extends through a longitudinal slot 59 formed in the web section 61 of a side channel member 48 and into an adjacent compartment 53 for pivotal connection of its free end with the closed end ofa cylinder 62 of the hydraulic cylinder unit 57. A connector bar 63 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is secured to and projects laterally from the web section 61 of an end channel member 49 for pivotal connection of its free end with a piston rod 64 for the hydraulic cylinder unit 57.

It is seen, therefore, that on retraction of the piston rods 64 within associated cylinders 62 that the chute assembly 33 is moved to its outermost position relative to the gantry frame structure 21, shown in full lines in FIG. 2 to accommodate flat cars having narrow decks 17. On extension of the piston rods 64 from the cylinders 62 the chute assembly 33 is moved to its innermost position relative to the gantry frame structure 15 to its position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 so as to be in a clearance relation with flat cars 18 having wide decks. This movement of the chute assembly 33 is facilitated by the provision of a series of rollers 66 (FIGS. 1 and 2) mounted on an end frame member 27 of the base section 22 in contact or hearing engagement with the bottom one of the outer layers During a back-and-forth travel of the gantry rake on the tracks 36, it is desirable that the chute assembly 33 be in the retracted position therefor illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 2 so that the upper end 43 of the chute assembly is in a clearance relation with flat cars 18 having either wide or narrow decks. This is accomplished in the present invention by having the chute assembly 33 automatically moved to its retracted position in response to the actuation of a directional control lever for the gantry rake 15. A system providing for this automatic movement of the chute assembly is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 7.

The hydraulic cylinder units 57 are connected in parallel in operative association with a pump 67, forming part of the power means 38, and having its inlet side connected by an intake line 68 to an oil reservoir 69. The outlet side of the pump is connected by a supply line 71 to a solenoid-controlled directional valve 72. An oil exhaust line 73 to the reservoir 69 is connected to the directional valve 72 which is of a commercial type available from Fluid Power Accessories, Inc. of Wheeling, Ill. and designated as Model 263-14--l2 Fluid Power Accessory 4-Way Solenoid Valve. The supply line 71 and exhaust line 73 are connectable through the valve 72 to the hydraulic cylinder units 57.

Each oil line 74 and 76 is connected through a corresponding line 79 and 81 with an associated pressure switch 82 and 83. The pressure switches 82 and 83 are ofa like construction made of the Static O Ring Pressure Switch Co. of Kansas City, Mo. with the switches 82 and 83 identified as Model lNLS. Each switch 82 and 83 includes contacts (not shown) which are normally closed when no oil pressure is applied to the pressure switches, and which are adapted to be opened in response to a predetermined oil pressure applied through an associated pressure line 79 and 81.

A travel control valve for the gantry rake 15, indicated generally at 84, includes a manually actuated control lever 86 (FIGS. 7 and 8) that is yieldably retained in a neutral position within a notch 87 formed in an upright plate 88 on the body of the control valve 84. The lever 86, on release from the notch 87, is movable in opposite directions within a guideway 89 formed between the plate 88 and a second upright plate 91 on the body of the travel control valve 84. The control valve 84 includes a normally open switch 92 on the plate 91 connected to the pressure switch 82 by conductor 93, and a normally closed switch 94 on the plate 88 connected to the pressure switch 83 by conductor 96. The switches 92 and 94 are connected to a battery 97 by conductors 98 and 99, respectively. Actuation of the lever 86 in opposite directions from its neutral position illustrated in FIG. 8, actuates in a usual manner a reversible hydraulic motor (not shown) pressure to which is supplied by a pump (not shown) that forms part of the power means 38.

Let it be assumed that the control lever 86 is moved in the direction of the arrow 101 in FIG. 8 to provide for movement of the gantry rake 15 in one direction along the tracks 36. On removal of the lever 86 from the notch 87 the switch 94 is opened, to render the pressure switch 83 inoperative, and the switch 92 to the pressure switch 82 is closed. Since the pressure switch 82 is normally closed the solenoid 102 of the control valve 72 corresponding thereto is energized to move the fluid passage 103 of the directional control valve 72 into fluid registration with the oil lines 73 and 76; and the fluid passage 104 into fluid registration with the oil lines 71 and 74. Fluid under pressure is thus supplied to the hydraulic units 57 to extend the piston rods 64 whereby the chute assembly 33 is moved to its retracted position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2.

With the chute assembly 33 in its retracted position a predetermined oil pressure is applied to the pressure switch 82 (FIG. 7) through the pressure line 79 to provide for an opening of the contacts in the pressure switch 82 and a resultant deenergization of the solenoid 102. With the opening of the circuit for the solenoid 102 the directional valve 72 is returned, by a return spring 105, to its position illustrated in FIG. 7. An oil pressure is thus maintained in the cylinder units 57 to hold the piston rods 64 in their extended positions with the oil discharged from the pump supply line 71 being bypassed into the exhaust line 73 through the bypassage 106 in the directional valve 72. As a result, the chute assembly 33 is retained in a retracted position for movement of the lever 86 in the direction of the arrow 101.

If it is desired to move the gantry rake in a reverse or opposite direction, the control lever 86 is moved in the direction of the arrow 107 (FIG. 8). When moved in this direction the lever 86 again closes switch 92 whereby the pressure switch 82 and solenoid 102 function in all ways similar to their function when the lever 86 was moved in the direction of the arrow 101. It is seen, therefore, that regardless of the directional movement of the lever 86, the chute assembly 33 is automatically moved to a retracted position with the pressure switch 82 on the application of a predetermined oil pressure thereon through the line 79 acting to open the circuit of the solenoid 102 to maintain the chute assembly 33 in its retracted posinon.

On return of the lever 86 to its neutral position within the slot 87 (FIG. 8) the lever 86 is engageable with and closes the normally open switch 94 whereby to close the circuit for the solenoid 108 of the directional valve 72 through the normally closed pressure switch 83. On energization of the solenoid 108 the fluid passage 109 in the directional valve 72 is moved to a position connecting the pressure line 71 with the oil line 76, and the fluid passage 111 is moved to a position connecting the oil line 74 with the exhaust line 73. The hydraulic units 57 are thus actuated to retract the piston rods 64 either to a full retracted position or to a partially retracted position wherein the upper end 43 of the chute assembly 33 is in contact engagement with the deck 17 ofa flat car 18 as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. At either of these retracted positions a predetermined pressure is reached which is applied on the switch 83 through the pressure line 81 whereby the solenoid 108 is deenergized and the directional valve 72 returned to its full-line position shown in FIG. 7 by the return spring 113. Oil from the pump 67 is then bypassed from the supply line 71 through the bypass passage 106 into the exhaust line 73 for return to the reservoir 69 whereby the chute assembly 33 is retained by the cylinder units 57 in an extended position.

As a result of the automatic retraction of the chute assembly 33 in response to a directional travel of the gantry rake 15, the gantry rake is freely movable longitudinally of the car tracks 41 regardless of whether the flat cars 18 are provided with narrow or wide decks. Since the retraction of the cylinder units 57 provides for an extension of the chute assembly 33 to either a fully extended position adjacent the side of a narrow deck 17, as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 2, or to an extended position in abutting engagement with a wide deck 17, as illustrated in broken lines in the same figure, either of these extended positions is automatically attained on movement of the directional lever 86 to its neutral position within the slot 87 as shown in FIG. 8. Control of the chute assembly 33 independently of the directional travel of the gantry rake 33 is thus eliminated so as to appreciably simplify the operation of the gantry rake for removing pulp wood from flat cars along with positively eliminating ramming the extended chute assembly into the end of the deck of a flat car.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A gantry rake for moving pulpwood from the deck of a railroad flat car to a conveyor means extended longitudinally of the flat car comprising:

a. a portable frame structure extended across said conveyor means including an elevated platform,

b. means supporting said frame structure for movement longitudinally of said conveyor means,

0. track means for said flat car located to one side of said frame structure,

. means movably supporting the chute means on said frame structure for adjustable movement of the upper end thereof relative to the adjacent side of a flat car deck, and

f. a crane unit on said platform including a rake member for engaging and moving pulpwood from a flat car deck onto said chute means.

. The gantry rake according to claim 1 including: means supporting said crane unit on said platform for rotatable movement about a vertical axis,

a pivoted boom assembly for said crane unit extendible transversely across a flat car having a free end pivotally movable up and down relative to the deck of a flat car, and

. a rake member pendantly supported from said boom assembly for pivotal movement longitudinally thereof, to engage and move the pulpwood from a flat car deck onto said chute means. The gantry rake according to claim I wherein:

. said chute means is adjustably movable to a first retracted position, wherein the upper end thereof is spaced outwardly from the adjacent side of a flat car, and to a second extended position, wherein said upper end is contiguous to the adjacent side of the flat car deck. The gantry rake according to claim 3 including:

. means for controlling the directional movement of said frame structure,

. a manually operable actuating lever for said frame structure control means, and

. means for controlling the adjustable movement of said chute means in response to the actuation of said lever so that the chute means is in said first position thereof prior to directional movement of said frame structure.

. The gantry rake according to claim 4 wherein: said control means for the chute means includes means responsive to the location of said actuating lever in a neutral position therefor to move said chute means to said second extended position therefor. 

1. A gantry rake for moving pulpwood from the deck of a railroad flat car to a conveyor means extended longitudinally of the flat car comprising: a. a portable frame structure extended across said conveyor means including an elevated platform, b. means supporting said frame structure for movement longitudinally of said conveyor means, c. track means for said flat car located to one side of said frame structure, d. a flat chute means at said one side of the frame structure located between said track means and said conveyor means, said chute means inclined downwardly and inwardly of the frame structure to transfer pulpwood by gravity action from the deck of a flat car to said conveyor means, e. means movably supporting the chute means on said frame structure for adjustable movement of the upper end thereof relative to the adjacent side of a flat car deck, and f. a crane unit on said platform including a rake member for engaging and moving pulpwood from a flat car deck onto said chute means.
 2. The gantry rake according to claim 1 including: a. means supporting said crane unit on said platform for rotatable movement about a vertical axis, b. a pivoted boom assembly for said crane unit extendible transversely across a flat car having a free end pivotally movable up and down relative to the deck of a flat car, and c. a rake member pendantly supported from said boom assembly for pivotal movement longitudinally thereof, to engage and move the pulpwood from a flat car deck onto said chute means.
 3. The gantry rake according to claim 1 wherein: a. said chute means is adjustably movable to a first retracted position, wherein the upper end thereof is spaced outwardly from the adjacent side of a flat car, and to a second extended position, wherein said upper end is contiguous to the adjacent side of the flat car deck.
 4. The gantry rake according to claim 3 including: a. means for controlling the directional movement of said frame structure, b. a manually operable actuating lever for said frame structure control means, and c. means for controlling the adjustable movement of said chute means in response to the actuation of said lever so that the chute means is in said first position thereof prior to directional movement of said frame structure.
 5. The gantRy rake according to claim 4 wherein: a. said control means for the chute means includes means responsive to the location of said actuating lever in a neutral position therefor to move said chute means to said second extended position therefor. 